Chapter 9: Crawling Fast
Agent 3 was taking care of some paperwork that Cuttlefish had brought over. "Sorry, but I just have a hard time with these newfangled ways of getting these files stored," he said. "Back in my day, we had filing cabinets."
"And today we have microform tech," said the Inkling with a chuckle. "No worries, Captain. Though, could you watch Saki while I take care of these for you?"
"Of course," he said. "That paperwork wasn't the only reason I came over."
Agent 8 laughed in amusement. "He's totally turning into a protective Grandpa, Yumi," she said to her friend.
"You shut your mouth, missy," the Captain said without heat, gently poking her stomach with his can and making her giggle.
Agent 3 chuckled, her smile growing when she heard Saki squeal happily at seeing her grandpa and aunt. "Hey, sweetie," Agent 8 said, picking up the baby. "Your grandpa needs a hug."
Cuttlefish chuckled as he accepted the baby from her. "Hello, my sweet starfish," he said with a smile. "I hear you got to say your first word the other day."
Saki giggled. "Mama!" She said happily.
Agent 8 giggled. "Sounds like she's proud of her first word," she said.
The Captain chuckled. "Perhaps her next word will be 'Grandpa'," he said. "Or something similar."
"Grandpa kind of makes you sound a bit old, Captain," the red Octoling said. "You need something that doesn't make you sound old."
"Oh?" He asked. "What do you suggest?"
She gave it some thought before it hit her. "How about 'Opa'?" She asked. "It's German for Grandpa."
"Opa," he repeated, sounding thoughtful. "Not too short, not too long." He nodded. "I like it and you're right. It doesn't make me sound old."
"And it'll be easier for Saki to pronounce," the Octoling said.
The baby kicked her legs a bit and Cuttlefish chuckled. "I think she wants to get down," he said, setting her down on the floor. "Can you get some of her toys?"
8 got out a blanket and some of the baby blocks, rattles, and soft balls. "There we go," she said as the Captain set the baby down on the blanket. Saki reached for one of the balls and 8 got on her hands and knees and crawled the short distance to it, rolling the ball to the baby. Giggling, Saki pushed the ball back to her aunt, who gave it a gentle push back.
The baby, seeing her aunt on her hands and knees, suddenly moved and was soon in the same position. 8 was surprised before smiling. "Are you trying to crawl, sweetie?" She asked.
"Looks like it," Cuttlefish chuckled as he moved so that he was in the chair across from the baby.
8 went over to the baby. "Come on, sweetie, you can do it," she said. "Like this."
She demonstrated to the baby, who was watching before looking at her grandpa, who smiled. "Come on, Saki," he said encouragingly. "Show Opa and Auntie that you can do it."
The little one tried moving, but just ended up rocking back and forth on her hands and knees, almost like she was trying to go forward, but stayed in one spot. "Well, she's got the going forward part down," 8 said with a giggle.
The Captain chuckled. "Try rolling a ball near her," he said. "If she reaches out, it might help her see how to use her hands and legs to crawl."
"Good idea."
The red Octoling got a ball and put it in front of Saki, not too far out but not close either. The baby, seeing the ball, tried to reach for it, but it was just beyond her fingers. "Come on, honey," 8 said encouragingly. "You can do it."
The baby again reached for the ball, but it was still too far and her hand slapped down on the blanket, causing her to fall forward a bit. 8 quickly and gently caught her, holding her upright. "Careful, sweetie," she said, helping the baby to find her balance again. "Try again."
"See if you can get that ball," Cuttlefish said, his voice still encouraging.
Saki looked at the ball and then reached out again, leaning forward and then she looked at her hands before managing to move a leg. 8 felt excitement fill her. "Yumi! Come quick!" She called out.
Hearing her friend call for her, Agent 3 dropped the papers in her hands and raced out to the living room, vaulting over the couch and landing on the cushions with her feet, her weapon drawn. "What? What is it?" She asked, looking around for a threat.
Cuttlefish laughed. "Yumi, relax," he said. "Look at your daughter."
She did and was surprised to see Saki on her hands and knees and she was rocking a bit before she reached one hand out and managed to pull herself forward a little. The mother gasped as she grew hopeful. "Is she...trying to crawl?" She asked softly.
"Yeah, she is," said 8 with a giggle before reaching out. "Come on, sweetie. You can do it."
"You're getting it," said the Captain encouragingly.
Saki tried again, moving forward a little bit once more before seeming to gather her courage and push herself up a bit before one hand moved forward and then the other, but she stayed put. 8 giggled. "You got to move your legs too, silly," she said.
Kicking a little, the baby managed to get her knees back under her. She then pulled her knees towards her stomach a bit more and then leaned forward. "There you go!" The red Octoling said excitedly. "Now try putting the movements together."
"Left, right, left," said Cuttlefish.
The baby, as if understanding, put out her right arm, but pulled her left leg close to her stomach. She then put out her left arm and pulled her right leg towards her stomach and she moved forward a little. Agent 3 gasped happily. "That's it, sweetie!" She said excitedly, moving to where she was facing her daughter. "Come on. You can do it."
Seeing her mother, Saki squealed happily and leaned forward and pulled her legs in, getting the hang of it quickly and crawling to her mother, who held her arms out to receive her as the baby reached her. "You did it!" Agent 3 said, lifting her baby up into the air and then into her arms. "Mommy's so proud of you!" She kissed her baby's cheek, hugging her happily.
8 chuckled. "First word and crawling," she said. "Saki's going to be up and running before we know it."
"That she will be," Cuttlefish said with a chuckle. "It'll be nice to hear her little footsteps running all over my ship."
"Oh, that's the first place she'll be running in as soon as she learns to walk," 3 said with a smile. "She caught on really fast."
"She did," said the red Octoling. "I showed her how to do it and she seemed to catch on right away."
"She's a smart baby," the Captain said with a chuckle.
Saki giggled and hugged her mother before yawning. "Aww, did that crawling tire you out, sweetie?" Agent 3 cooed to her daughter.
The baby leaned her head against her mother's chest and was soon fast asleep. "Wow, guess it did," Agent 8 asked.
Cuttlefish noticed the time. "Actually, doesn't Saki usually take a nap at this time, Yumi?" He asked.
She looked at the clock. "Oh, you're right," she said with a smile. "Thanks, guys."
"Oh, you're welcome, Yumi," said 8. "I love watching over Saki."
"As do I," the Captain said, gently brushing a hand over the baby's head. "Sweet dreams, my little starfish."
Agent 3 smiled, thrilled that her baby was growing so well and learning so fast.
But little did they know, danger was on the horizon.
Yes, Saki is now crawling and speaking, but trouble comes when an enemy kidnaps the baby. What will happen? Stay tuned to find out. :)
And please leave a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418